Crochet Coral Reef

"The Crochet Coral Reef project, by Margaret and Christine Wertheim and the Institute For Figuring, responds to the environmental crisis of global warming and the escalating problem of oceanic plastic trash. Residing at the intersection of mathematics, marine biology, handicraft, and community art practice, the Crochet Coral Reef highlights not only the damage humans do to the earth's environment, but also our power for positive action. The project constitutes an elegiacally beautiful, artistically complex, and socially powerful way to bring citizens together around a devastating ecological challenge—the survival of the coral reefs and marine ecologies throughout the world. "  See their website for more information.

The original Coral Reef Project has been exhibited worldwide, including the Smithsonian; it will be opening here this weekend. The outreach part of this project encourages the various local communities to create their own shows, and this is what we are all working on right now. M and I joined a small group of women this afternoon to create pieces for the upcoming UC Santa Cruz Satellite Reef exhibit in May. It is heartening to see women of all ages and talents contributing their work; some are picking up hook and yarn for the first time, others are veteran handcrafters. My piece started as a tube made with two kinds of yarn, and I finished it with strips of clear plastic bags. The pieces in the Extra mostly use yarn, but the green coral is being finished with black vcr tape. There is a mathematical concept involved concerning hyperbolic space that makes my head hurt. Luckily you can crochet your little heart out without having to understand a thing.